Use area formulas for rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and composite figures.
Break a composite figure into easier pieces
Problem
An L-shaped figure is made from \(\text{two}~\text{rectangles}\) that do not overlap. The bottom rectangle is \(12~\text{units}\) long and \(4~\text{units}\) wide. On the left end of that rectangle, a \(\text{second}~\text{rectangle}\) is attached on top and measures \(5~\text{units}\) by \(6~\text{units}\). Find the total area of the composite figure in square units.
Use the visible horizontal segment to view the L-shape as two familiar rectangles that meet without overlapping. Find each piece’s area from its own labeled dimensions, then add those areas because together they cover the original figure exactly once. Treating the entire outer span as filled would incorrectly include the missing upper-right region.
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